The Ultimate Apple Productivity Setup - Capture, Organize, Take Action

How I utilize my iPhone, iPad, and Mac Studio with Apple apps to live a better life and be highly productive. Watch for my personal tips and tricks.
#reminders #notes #calendar
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[@TonyTylerDraws]

Btw, thank you for showing us a “normal” use of this system. A lot of people give corporate or freelance examples of a productivity setup, and yours is about doing things like dethatching a yard or putting wipers on a car.

[@BrandonMeves]

Awesome, thanks for the note!

[@helencooper286]

I agree, it’s great to see more universal usage ideas

[@MichaelKellyonline]

So true!

[@mr_red13]

I wish Reminders could sync to Apple Calendar so I can see a timed task in one place without having to switch between apps to see what I should be doing. Fantastical seems to be the only one I’ve seen do this.

[@BrandonMeves]

I hear you there

[@thatvietguyonline]

True, that’s why google calendar still wins some other Apple user’s hearts

[@SlowSpeedChase13]

I’ve submitted that to Apple feedback, you should too!

[@mr_red13]

@@SlowSpeedChase13 hmm you’re right!

[@BrandonMeves]

Rumors online say maybe in iOS 18!

[@KI4ASK]

Quite possibly the best Apple ecosystem productivity video I’ve seen. Never knew Reminders did all of that. Thanks. Subscribing.

[@BrandonMeves]

Appreciate it! Thanks for watching!

[@UPENNACNP]

Thanks for the video. I like the style and atmosphere you created. I also benefited from your tip to create an inbox / today smart list as this really reflects the things I may need to accomplish or manage at any one time. Thanks again!

[@BrandonMeves]

Glad you enjoyed and thanks for watching!

[@user-hp8db9zc7z]

I’m 1 minute in and can already tell this is going to be a good vid. Same here, i figured out how to optimize the apple 1st party app rather then deal with subscription’s and other bullshit from 3rd parties

[@BrandonMeves]

Smart! Thanks for watching!

[@JohnLusher]

SOLID video on how to really use the Apple ecosystem. Well done!

[@BrandonMeves]

Thank you so much!

[@STWHA_]

Long time user of Things3 and Bear. I decided to for first party apps and see how it works out. So far I like it for a lot of the things you highlight. One thing I do different than you, is that I use widget “stacks” to be able to swipe between Reminders lists. I have a ”today” list where I am tagged (smart list), and then a “today” list excluding me (mostly family or shared stuff). With stacks, you can use the same screen real estate which is nice! I’m pairing Apple Notes with the Bullet Journal style of daily logging which has worked out great so far!

[@BrandonMeves]

That is a really good point you made there! I may have to include that in a future video so others can see that as an option. Thanks!

[@snsokstan]

iPhone, iPad and Macbook Pro here. I keep thinking about abandoning my "outside" note and reminder apps and just using the built-in Apple utilities. You've pushed me along.

[@BrandonMeves]

At some point it is sort of a relief to stop chasing other shiny objects and just make the most of what is already there stock and get a system in place. Good luck!

[@romansone1617]

I’ve needed other apps to add to my user experience while in grad school, but I really think this is the way to go once I graduate! Great video!

[@BrandonMeves]

Glad it was helpful!

[@marshallmiller6286]

This is just a video that I’ve been looking for and wishing for excellent excellent content more more more. Please do more of this. I’ve already subscribed you are an inspiration.

[@BrandonMeves]

Thank you! Will do and thanks for subscribing!

[@Airship56]

Great video Brandon. The two biggest items on my Apple Productivity wish list are 1) The ability to link Apple Notes to Calendar events, and 2) The ability to set Reminders recurrences based on completion of the current item.

[@alanbarnett7747]

You sort of can link Apple Notes to Calendar events, at least one way. Simply copy the link to the Note in the share sheet and paste it into the Calendar event.

[@cxldheartedstack]

This was what I have been looking for! I use Things 3 ,Fantastical and Notes right now, this video has helped me decide which combo of apps work for me. I’ve been using the past month or so. I really enjoy Things 3 tho I must admit. Subscribed

[@BrandonMeves]

Thanks for watching!

[@Bmarker299]

Excellent Work. More people need to know about your excellent channel

[@BrandonMeves]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@GameingWiz]

Really appreciate this video!

[@BrandonMeves]

Awesome, thanks for watching!

[@vanovum]

Thank you for this overview and your work you put in. The main problem of all these available apps is collaboration. You can’t use this comfortably for your company to work with others together.

[@BrandonMeves]

Good point

[@osdiasmall9418]

🔥

[@wingandhog]

Wife and I both use iPad Pro’s and iPhones. Waiting for the rumored M4 chip-set Mac-Mini later this year or early 2025, and then I will once and for all get rid of my Windows desktop. I do not need an Apple Watch. What this video showed me is 1. I need to organize my stuff a little better. 2. I need to do this using the killer built in Apple apps. Good video!

[@BrandonMeves]

Thanks for watching! Sounds like a good plan!

[@Kmoxstar]

Solid video

[@BrandonMeves]

thanks!

[@dieterreinert]

Great video!

[@BrandonMeves]

Why thank you!

[@MarshallBeyer]

Excellent video! What case are you using on your iPhone? Is that the fine woven case?

[@BrandonMeves]

Yes, it’s the fine woven.

[@NonGlamorousUtuber]

great vid - iOS has pre made shortcuts - ie: Today View to check your calendar - Add new event - and open Smart list reminder so you can check all reminders with the touch of an 1 icon. also they can be added to your Home Screen by going to 1.shortcuts long pressing 2.share 3. add to Home Screen BAM

[@BrandonMeves]

Thanks for sharing!

[@RameshKumar-ng3nf]

Bro, new to your channel and subscribed . Thanks for sharing productivity tips for apple ecosystem. In future, if possible kindly make a video , sharing tips and tricks for your apple watch ultra2 , how you use that as your productivity tool in apple ecosystem. I use things3, but cannot able to enter tasks properly using siri with apple watch ultra2 . Issue is instead of tasks going to things3 inbox, it goes to apple reminders. Feels so confused, dont find any tutorial in youtube.

[@BrandonMeves]

Noted! Sounds like a good video to make.

[@RameshKumar-ng3nf]

@@BrandonMeves Thanks ! for taking it in to consideration.

[@TonyTylerDraws]

lol just wondering if you would ever make one of these videos

[@Drea1911]

This was a great informative video! However, I’ve found that my Mac desktop lags pretty much all the time. I’ve updated it and there is plenty of memory available. It’s so slow that I no longer use it.

[@BrandonMeves]

Oh not ideal!

[@FrancescoPalermi]

How do you create the Smart list today/inbox? What filters have you used?

[@BrandonMeves]

Create a new list, make it a smart list, and under filters go to "Lists" and then "include". There you can add multiple lists together so they all funnel to your new smart list. Obviously if you want a new regular list called "inbox" like me, make that first so you can include it in your new smart list. hope that helps!

[@FrancescoPalermi]

Thanks so much! I love your channel!

[@FrancescoPalermi]

@@BrandonMevesthis is can be done only with Mac? With iPhone i can’t include more than one list, what i’m doing wrong?

[@BV35]

Great Video - thank you! You have a new subscriber… can I ask the lamps in the background (light globe? ) where did you get them? I love them - thanks looking forward to more videos

[@BrandonMeves]

thanks! for the lights - the one you see to the right is a random lamp we found at a Meijer store. The one to the left is the Tarnaby from Ikea.

[@Jathwon]

How do you work with hard deadlines in reminders? In Things 3 there is a Start Date and a Hard Deadline. I really want to start using reminders again but hard deadlines are a must for me.

[@TonyTylerDraws]

Use the early reminder on the inspector/detail screen of the reminder as an start date and due date as a hard deadline

[@BrandonMeves]

I like that idea

[@jasona.2044]

@@TonyTylerDrawsexactly

[@miriamfociani7467]

hello Brandon, how is it going? I wanted to tell you that I’m trying to buy the lake backdrop but it won’t accept payment even though the money is on the card so I don’t understand. can you help me thx, have a great day!

[@BrandonMeves]

I'm not sure, it worked for me! I don't control that service so I'm not sure why it isn't working for you. Sorry about that!

[@TheSoloist1Alone]

Loser brain, you’re funny bro😂 Thanks for all the great tips you’ve shared. Fortunate for me to stumble upon your video ✊🏾💯

[@BrandonMeves]

Happy to help!!

[@seapanda-117]

This is very good. Would you mine creating a video where you’ve tested using Google Drive and its services for a similar setup to this? It’s cross platform and is more friendly to people who may need to collaborate.

[@BrandonMeves]

Certainly possible. Thanks for feedback!

[@owenL]

Nice moose.

[@Japaso76]

Please, how can I create a meeting in apple calendar and activate teams instead of FaceTime as meeting app? That is the only thing keeping me from using this calendar as default.

[@BrandonMeves]

Not sure, never had to attempt that before!

[@PeterDoesFarming]

Quick tip: you can start typing >> in notes to build a link to other notes without using the menus

[@BrandonMeves]

I should have mentioned that, thanks!

[@ArthropodSpidey]

"in conjunction with iCloud and my NAS" With the way you said it, I heard a different word than NAS

[@BrandonMeves]

😂

[@ArthropodSpidey]

@@BrandonMeves Awesome video btw. I subscribed.

[@maikaimakena9424]

Do you use Apple Mail as your default mail

[@BrandonMeves]

I have both a mac email address as well a google email address. On iPhone and iPad, I use the Apple mail app exclusively, synced to both accounts. On my computer, I use a combination of the Apple Mail app (synced to both accounts) and loading Gmail in a browser (where the majority of my email is). Just depends the mood I am in.

[@burprobrox9134]

Are you in the garage or if not what’s the rationale of having a tool cabinet in your house?

[@BrandonMeves]

It holds all my camera gear, cords, spare drives, mice, etc, along with other stuff like flashlights and other gear. I like the aesthetic and functionality over a “normal” cabinet.

[@anglenghong]

Is that a 5K iMac 🖥️ behind you?

[@BrandonMeves]

That’s my Apple Studio display connected to my Mac Studio

[@anglenghong]

@@BrandonMeves The Studio Display stand looks very similar to the iMac stand...but when I checked on Apple online store, it looks a bit different, more towards the current range of iMac...maybe it is the angle of the shot, which makes looks like an iMac. Thanks.

[@DK-ry5uu]

disappointed to not see the field notes from the thumbnail be part of the ecosystem. Not sure why to include it in the thumbnail then other than clickbait me lol

[@BrandonMeves]

Gotcha!! 🤣 (I’ll try to include a note taking system video sometime in the future with the trusty field notes!)

[@miriamfociani7467]

first

[@DarrylHebbes]

Sub ultimate, ultimate would be cross platform… but nice try

[@boldschool6308]

Siri is extremely worse than any other assistant. I have stopped using Siri on my mac. Whereas Google assistant on my android is waayyy better with any info I want.

[@BrandonMeves]

nice!

[@SFLiberty]

background music... is really.... really... annoying. it's probably just me, tho.

[@BrandonMeves]

I did turn the music volume down lower than other videos. I'll keep perfecting. sometimes I just gotta have some tunes going... 😆

[@avienxyz]

Alternate Title: How to be iSheep

[@BrandonMeves]

But happy and productive sheep! 😆

[@Amoux_Fang]

Get over yourself buddy

[@bridgetweaver-hicks8086]

Great video !!!!

[@BrandonMeves]

Thanks!!